| Artavasdes I | |
|---|---|
 Coin of Artavasdes I | |
| King of Armenia | |
| Reign | 160 BC – 115 BC |
| Predecessor | Artaxias I |
| Successor | Tigranes I |
| Died | 115 BC |
| Issue | Artaxias I of Iberia |
| Dynasty | Artaxiad |
| Father | Artaxias I |
Artavasdes I (also spelled Artawazd/Artavazd) was the Artaxiad king of Armenia from approximately 160 BC to 115 BC. He was the son and successor of Artaxias I. Little is known about his reign. He is the subject of ancient Armenian folk traditions, which are recorded by later Armenian authors.
In c. 120 BC, the Parthian king Mithridates II (r. 124–91 BC) defeated Artavasdes I and made him acknowledge Parthian suzerainty.[1] Artavasdes was forced to give the Parthians Tigranes as a hostage, who was either his son[1] or nephew.[2]
According to Cyril Toumanoff, Artavasdes I can be identified with the Armenian king who, according to the medieval Georgian annals, interfered in Iberia at the request of local nobility and installed his son, Artaxias, on the throne of Iberia, thereby inaugurating the Iberian Artaxiad dynasty.[3]
- ^ a b Olbrycht 2009, p. 165.
- ^ Garsoian 2005.
- ^ Rapp 2003, p. 282.